Vault casket



Aug. 26 1924.

J. E. MOORE VAULT CASKET Filed Sent. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 7,Z'.M00re.

7 $0 ATTORNEYS.

Cal

Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VAULT CASKET.

Application filed September 8, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vault Gaskets, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a vault casket, and the object of the invention is the construction of a casket which is provided with a casket body that extends into the outer lid a sufficient distance to prevent moisture or liquid entering said casket body irrespective as to whether the casket body is resting on a perfectly level, flat surface, or an uneven surface in a vault or grave.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a burial casket provided with a lid, formed of any suitable material, extending down a considerable distance on the sides of the casket body, whereby the interior of the casket body is sealed against moisture or water entering the same even though the casket body is not resting in a perfect horizontal position.

Another object of the invention is the production of a casket that eliminates the use of a burial vault.

With these and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain novel combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved vault casket, whereas Figure 2 is a longitudinal, central, sectional view of the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse, sectional View of the vault casket.

Figure 4t is a perspective view of the casket body, with the lids removed.

1 Figure 5 is a perspective View of the outer Figure 6 is a perspective view of the frame and platform.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the casket body, having fastened to the outer face thereof a lid supporting ledge 2.

Serial No. $61,651.

It employ a substantially rectangular frame 3, placing said frame in the casket body, with the top of the frame flush with the top of the casket body, Figs. 2 and 3.

I provide a horizontal platform 4 upon which the corpse is placed, and at the ends are provided inverted, Y shaped straps 5; each strap 5 has its lower ends fastened to the end of the platform 1 (see Figs. 2 and 6), and its upper leg 6 is provided with aper tures 7 into which is adapted to extend pins 8 fastened to the top of the frame 3. There are two pins provided, these pins being at the end of the frame so that the operator can place the pins in different apertures of the straps and thereby cause the platform to be positioned within the casket body at the desired height.

I provide an inner lid 9 that rests upon the top of the frame 3 and the casket body 1, with the pins 8 slightly extending into the inner lid 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, whereby the pins 8 act as a locking means for preventing the inner lid from slipping off the casket body (Figs. 2 and An outer lid 10 is provided, being formed of non-corrosive metal, the same as the casket body 1, and this lid 10 is bent down at its edges 11, terminating in an outwardlyextending, bowed portion 12, which portions 11 and 12 extend beyond the outer face of the casket body, with the portion 12 terminating at its lower edge in an inwardlyextending, horizontal flange 15. The inner edge of flange 13 bears tightly against the sides of the casket body, with the lower face of the flange 13 resting snug against the extension 2, making an airtight closure for the vault casket.

By means of the adjustable platform the remains can be raised to a height, permitting of easy viewing of the same, or they can be lowered within the casket body at the will of the operator.

By making the casket body and the outer lid of non-corrosive metal I produce in a single unit a burial vault as well as a coifin or casket, thereby materially decreasing the cost of a combined coflin and vault, all formed in one simple article of construction or manufacture.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, and have illustrated the same in the accompanying draw ings, certain minor changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates, during the extensive manufacture of the same and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such alterations or changes as shall fairly fah within the scope of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

i, In a vault casket the combination of a lid, and a casket body extending into the lid, with portions of the lid extending down a considerable distance on the sides of the casket body, and a supporting ledge extending about the casket body, the depending portions of the lid tern'iinating in inturned lg flat upon the ledge and en- M 7 sides of the body, whereby the interior of the casket body is sealed against moisture or water entering the same even though the casket body is not resting in a perfect horizontal position.

2 in a vault casket the combination of a c:'.sket body, a frame in said body, said frame and casket body having their upper edges in the same horizontal plane, pins extending from the upper edges of the frame, a platform provided with hanger straps, said straps being fastened upon said pins to suspend the platform, and a lid resting upon the upper edges of the frame and casket body, and having the pins embedded in its edge portions to hold the lid against sliding moven'rent.

3. In vault casket the combination of a casket body, a frame in said casket body, a-

platform in said casket body, means for raising and lowering said platform, said raising and lowering means extendmg across the upper edges of the casket body and frame, a lid resting on said frame and casket body, and common means for anchoring the lid and raising and lowering means.

4. In a vault casket the combination of a casket body, a frame in said body and having its upper edgein the same horizontal plane of the upper edge of the casket body, vertical pins fastened to the top of the end of the frame, a platform within the casket body and the frame, inverted Y-shaped straps having their lower ends fastened to the ends of the platform, the upper legs of said straps provided with a plurality of apertures, the vertical pins fastened to theends of the frame being adapted to extend into the apertures of the legs of the straps with portions of the strap resting flat upon the top edge of the casket body and the frame, and a lid resting upon the top edge of the casket body and frame and having the pins extending into the same, substantially as shown and described.

In a vault casket the combination of a casket body provided with a horizontal lid supporting ledge around its sides and ends, a metal lid having its edges extending downwardly beyond the side faces of the casket body and terminating in an outwardly bowed portion, said outwardly bowed por-' tion provided at its lower end with an inwardl extending horizontal flange, and said flange resting tightly against said lid supporting ledge and having its inner freeedge positioned contiguous to the sides and ends of the casket body.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

JOHN E. MOORE. 

